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6 local Oktoberfest celebrations with German beer

A modern take on the traditional Oktoberfest celebration was on tap at the Batch Brewing Company on Saturday, September 19, 2015 in Detroit. The Corktown nano-brewery served up handcrafted German-style beers, food and entertainment as they celebrated their first Octoberfest since opening their doors in February 2015. Many guests wore Dirndl and Lederhosen as they sipped from commemorative beer steins under sunny September skies.(Photo: John Froelich, Special to the Free Press)

German-themed fall beer events are a growing tradition in southeast Michigan, with Oktoberfest festivals, dinners and beer tastings planned this month across the region – some fairly new, others building on decades of celebration.

Virtually any event called "Oktoberfest" with a hint of authenticity will pour at least one variety of märzen, a traditional lager that's medium- to full-bodied, often amber-colored, with a distinguishable caramel malt flavor.

"Brewed a bit stronger than standard lagers, but made to cascade down the throat with abandon, they're both the result and cause of merriment," said Jeff Alworth in his book, The Beer Bible.

Despite the "Oktober-" name, most Oktoberfest events actually occur in September. The first was held in 1810 to honor a royal marriage; it lasted five days and ended Oct. 17 with a horse race. But the annual tradition was moved into September to make it more comfortable for people outdoors, according to the official German Oktoberfest website. Its festivities Sept. 17-Oct. 3 in Munich draw people from across the world and involve consumption of more than 6 million liters of beer

Michigan's events run about the same time and include beers made by local craft brewers as well as imported from Bavaria and beyond.

Here are six top options:

27th annual Frankenmuth Oktoberfest

The town founded by German immigrants and named to honor their homeland offers one of the most authentic Oktoberfest experiences in the United States: It's the first outside of Germany to be sanctioned by the Bavarian Parliament and City of Munich, according to the event news release.

As many as 10,000 people attend Frankenmuth Oktoberfest, which started Thursday and continues through Sunday. Highlights include Schuhplattler folk dancers from the Bavarian Alps and a Saturday wiener dog (dachshund) race featuring about 100 dogs. The race starts at noon.

The beverages include beer from the Munich-based Hofbräuhaus brewery, which became the event's official sponsor in 1997, according to the event website.

"Our beer is brewed using the original recipes handed down by Wilhelm V, the Duke of Bavaria (over 400 years ago) and is imported directly from the brewery in Munich, Germany," according to the website.

A variety of German foods being served includes black forest ham and augratin, bratwurst with kraut and buttered spatzle. More information, including event schedules, is available on the event's website.

Batch Brewing Co.'s 2nd Annual Oktoberfest at Batch Brauerei​

A modern take on the traditional Oktoberfest celebration was on tap at the Batch Brewing Company on Saturday, September 19, 2015 in Detroit. The Corktown nano-brewery served up handcrafted German-style beers, food and entertainment as they celebrated their first Octoberfest since opening their doors in February 2015. Many guests wore Dirndl and Lederhosen as they sipped from commemorative beer steins under sunny September skies.(Photo: John Froelich, Special to the Free Press)

The nano-brewery in Detroit's Corktown neighborhood goes "full Batch Brauerei alter-ego mode" for its 2nd annual Oktoberfest, with six in-house-made German-style beers and a variety of foods, said Batch founder Stephen Roginson.

Beers include märzen, pilsner, dunkel bock, schwarzbier, hedeweizen and kolsch. There's a 1/2 chicken dinner with house-made sauerkraut and cheese spätzle. There will also be schweinsaxe (roasted ham hock) and veggie schnitzel.

Dakota Inn Rathskeller Oktoberfest

food at the Dakota Inn: left, combo plate features Bratwurst (pictured) Knackwurst, sauerkraut and potato salad. German beer is on tap. At right, Kartoffelpuffer, or potato pancakes with applesauce
(Photo: Allan Barnes, special to the freep)

The 83-year-old German bar and restaurant known for its festive singalongs celebrates Oktoberfest on weekends from mid-September through October with live German bands and dancing.

Oktoberfest beers from Hofbräuhaus, Spaten and Warsteiner are to be on tap among a variety of German-made selections. The restaurant's menu includes a variety of German foods from potato pancakes to schnitzels, bratwurst and more.

The festivities kick off Friday with the reading of a proclamation and ceremonial keg tapping. The Dakota Inn opens for dinner at 5 p.m., and the band begins at 8 p.m.

Chicken hats are sold for $10, with proceeds going to local charities. Space is limited, and people are advised to call 313-867-9722 in advance to make reservations. More information is available at the Dakota Inn website.

​2nd annual Parktoberfest at Campus Martius Park

The second-annual event in the downtown Detroit park looks like a good opportunity to try a number of marzen beers – from local, national and German brewers – with Oktoberfest varieties from Bell's Brewery, Spaten, Goose Island Beer Co., Paulaner Brauerei, Atwater Brewery, Erdinger Weissbrau, Warsteiner, Privatbrauerei Ayinger, Hacker-Pschorr and more.

The event is to include 25 craft beers, live music, German-themed foods and a variety of activities for kids and adults, according to the event website. Among the highlights are a professional pumpkin-carving demonstration and display, games such as keg hoisting and a Faygo root beer garden.

12th annual Saline Main Street Oktoberfest

A German nail-game tournament and a wiener dog race are among festivities at this event in this community south of Ann Arbor. Beer, wine, food and kids' activities are also planned at the Saline Main Street Oktoberfest, along with a variety of live music.

Hammerspiel, a German game, consists of players taking turns swinging at nails in a log to be the first to drive the nail's head into the wood. Children's activities include a bounce house, scarecrow-making demonstration, obstacle course and more.

The 12th annual event celebrates Saline's relationship with sister city Lindenberg, Germany. More information is available on the event's website.

Oktoberfest at Bastone Brewery

The Royal Oak-based brewery that's won numerous awards is planning a five-course German dinner for Sept. 21.

“Guests will indulge in a decadent selection of hearty comfort foods and enjoy a variety of light and dark beer pairings selected by our master brewer, Rockne Van Meter," Bastone Brewery executive chef Robert Young said in a news release.

The dinner includes five distinct German beer varieties paired with each course, starting with a wheat doppelbock served with German cheese and sausages. The main course includes a reddish-brown smoke beer served with beef osso bucco. For dessert, there's black forest cake paired with a dark-brown barleywine. Participants 21 and up also receive a tasting glass that can be refilled at a discount, according to a news release.

A special Oktoberfest menu is planned for Oct. 3-16 with five special options such as chicken Papakash pasta with braised pulled chicken, roasted red peppers, caramelized onions, smoked paprika, sauce house and cooked gnocchi. The brewery's Oktoberfest märzen is described as a medium-bodied beer brewed with German noble hops, with notes of caramel and toffee.